204 Records of the Indian Museum. [Voi,, XIX, 



simple rays, bringing the total to 19 in all. The ventrals have 

 2 simple ra3'S, and 5 branched ones. On the ventral surface of 

 the simple rays, both in the pectoral and ventral fins, transverse 

 muscular bands are developed which probably help the fish in 

 adhering to pieces of stone. The caudal fin has almost equal 

 lobes and is slightly emarginate. 



Pharyngeal teeth : — In young individuals the pharyngeal teeth 

 seem to be arranged in more than one row and their number is 

 very difficult to count. In the type they are disposed in a single 

 row ; five sharp, slender teeth are present on the upper part of 

 the pharyngeal bone, while in the lower part there are some 

 minute teeth very difficult to count. The former are slightly 

 curved near their extremities. 



Scales : — The entire body is covered with small scales, except 

 in the region of the bell}" and the chest. There are about 70 scales 

 along the lateral line The tubes of the lateral organs in the 

 anterior region are very prominent. There are 10 rows of scales 

 above the lateral line and 9 below it. 



A scale from the dorsal surface is almost cycloid in appear- 

 ance, with a flat base and an arched upper margin. The nucleus 

 is eccentric and is nearer to the base. There are about 16 — 18 

 concentric striae going round the scale, evidently closer near the 

 base than near the apex. The circular striae are interrupted by 

 16 radii to the base and 12 to the apex, only 5 of each lot 

 reaching the nucleus. 



The following are the measurements of a scale from the dorsal 

 surface of the type-specimen : — 



Length . . . . . . 0-92 mm. 



Breadth . . . . . . 0-90 mm. 



Distance of nucleus from base . . o'25 mm. 



Colour : — The colouration is described from spirit specimens. 

 The dorsal and the lateral surfaces are of a chestnut brown colour, 

 while the chest and belly are almost white. Behind the dorsal fin 

 there are 4 bands across the dorsal surface descending to the 

 lateral fine on both sides. Just in front of the dorsal fin there is 

 another broad band which goes to the base of the ventrals. 

 There are two more shorter and narrower bands in front of it. 

 The head is of a. deeper colour and is spotted all over with big 

 blotches. There are seven bands on the pectoral, three on the 

 dorsal and ventral, one or two on the anal and 4 bands across the 

 caudal fin. In young specimens about 24 mm. long we have 

 indications of 7 bands on the body, though the dorsal blotches are 

 distinct from the lateral. Three imperfectly developed bands are 

 seen on the caudal, while the dorsal and pectorals have few spots. 



Geographical Distribution: — The type-specimen was collected 

 by Dr. Annandale on the western side of the Eastern Ghats in 

 Travancore, while the others (young specimens) were collected by 

 Captain Sewell in the Nilgiris and Malabar districts (mostly in 

 the Wynaad) of Madras : three specimens in a hill stream on the 



